JP4595664B2 - Linear motion guidance device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear motion guide device used in an industrial machine such as a machine tool as a device for guiding a linearly moving object in its moving direction.

  A linear motion guide device used in an industrial machine such as a machine tool generally includes a guide rail, a slider main body having a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove formed on the guide rail, and the guide. Two end caps each communicating with a rolling element rolling path formed between the rolling elements rolling grooves of the rail and the slider body and each having a direction changing path communicating with a rolling element return path formed in the slider body; A plurality of spherical rolling elements that roll in the rolling element circulation path composed of the rolling element rolling path, the rolling element return path, and the direction changing path with relative linear motion of the slider constituted by the slider body and the end cap; It is the structure provided with. In such a linear motion guide device, the rolling elements are rotated by a resin belt-shaped separator to prevent collisions between the rolling elements in the rolling element circulation path and to improve noise characteristics and operability by smooth circulation. One that is separated in the longitudinal direction of the moving body circulation path is known (see Patent Document 1).

According to such a linear motion guide device, it is possible to prevent the rolling elements from rubbing and colliding with each other, but it is difficult to process the return passage in the slider body in accordance with the separator shape. Therefore, there has been known one in which a resin sleeve S as shown in FIG. 12 is inserted into the rolling element return path of the slider body to prevent the separator from being worn (see Patent Document 2).
JP 7-317762 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-72119

However, when a resin sleeve S as shown in FIG. 12 is inserted into the rolling element return path of the slider body, the outer diameter of the rolling element return path increases by the thickness of the sleeve S. For this reason, the linear motion guide device described above has a problem that the rigidity and strength of the slider main body are lower than those of the linear motion guide device that does not have a resin sleeve. In addition, a method of reducing the outer diameter of the sleeve as much as possible by cutting out a part of the sleeve is conceivable. In this case, however, the sleeve is sunk to narrow the circulation path of the rolling element and the guide groove of the arm of the separator. The operability and noise characteristics may be deteriorated.
The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and can be easily incorporated and phased without deteriorating operability and noise characteristics, and can directly increase the strength of the slider. An object of the present invention is to provide a motion guide device.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a guide rail, a slider main body having a rolling element rolling groove opposed to the rolling element rolling groove formed on the guide rail, and the guide rail. And two end caps each having a rolling element rolling path formed between both rolling element rolling grooves of the slider body and a direction changing path communicating with the rolling element return path formed in the slider body, and the slider body A plurality of rolling elements that roll on the rolling element rolling path, the rolling element return path, and the direction changing path with relative linear motion of the slider including the end cap, and the slider body and the end cap. A rolling element holder having a plate portion in between, a resinous belt-like separator that separates the rolling elements, and a cylindrical resin sleeve inserted into the rolling element return path, In the linear guide apparatus was example insertion, with two dividing said sleeve substantially semi-cylindrical, provided with a sleeve supporting hole for supporting an end portion of the sleeve to the plate portion of the rolling body cage, and the sleeve supporting hole 2 places that are end portions to each other was the split spread radially outwardly of the sleeve support holes of the sleeve is locked so as not to contact to form a guide path of the separator into the rolling element return path The positioning portion is provided on the plate portion of the rolling element holder.

The invention of claim 2 is the linear guide apparatus of claim 1, it is characterized in that the engagement portion to be engaged with the positioning portion provided in the sleeve.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the linear motion guide device according to the second aspect , the engaging portion is formed by cutting out a part of the divided portion of the sleeve in an arc shape.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the linear guide device according to the second aspect, the engaging portion is formed by cutting out a part of the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve into a concave shape.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the linear motion guide device according to the third or fourth aspect , the engaging portion is provided over the entire length of the sleeve .

According to the linear motion guide device of the present invention, since the sleeve has at least one notch in the longitudinal direction, the outer diameter of the sleeve can be reduced as much as possible. Strength improvement and downsizing can be achieved. In addition, the sleeve is locked so as to spread on the inner surface of the rolling element return path of the slider body to prevent contact of the notch portion of the sleeve, so that the sleeve is sunk to close the circulation path of the rolling element, and the operability and noise characteristics Will not worsen. Furthermore, since the outer diameter shape of the sleeve positioned by the positioning portion has a portion larger than the inner peripheral surface of the rolling element return path, the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and the inner peripheral surface of the rolling element return path come into contact with each other, and the rolling element It is possible to prevent the sleeve from vibrating due to the passage of noise and generating noise.
According to the linear motion guide device of the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects described above, the sleeve can be inserted into the rolling element return path even after the rolling element retainer is mounted on the slider body.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 9 are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a linear guide apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment includes a guide rail 11, a slider body 12, and an end. Caps 13A and 13B are provided.
The guide rail 11 has a substantially rectangular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, and two rolling element rolling grooves 14 _R are provided in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 11 on the right and left side portions of the guide rail 11. It is provided along.

The slider body 12 constitutes the slider 15 of the linear guide device 10 together with the end caps 13A and 13B, and the slider body 12 is provided with four rolling element rolling grooves 14 _S (see FIG. 2).
The rolling element rolling grooves 14 _S face the rolling element rolling grooves 14 _R of the guide rail 11, and a plurality of rolling elements are provided between the rolling element rolling grooves 14 _R and the rolling element rolling grooves 14 _S. A rolling element rolling path 17 for rolling the moving body 16 (see FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 11 is formed.

The end caps 13A and 13B are respectively attached to the front end surface and the rear end surface of the slider body 12 by a plurality of set screws (not shown), and the end caps 13A and 13B are curved in a substantially U shape. Four direction change paths 18 (see FIG. 1) are respectively formed.
The end caps 13A and 13B are formed, for example, by injection molding a resin material into a predetermined shape. A grease nipple mounting hole 20 is provided on the front surface of each of the end caps 13A and 13B. A side seal 21 is attached to seal the gap between the rail 11 and the end caps 13A and 13B.

When the slider 15 is relatively moved in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 11, the rolling element 16 rolls on the rolling element rolling path 17. The slider 15 has a rolling element 16 at the time of assembly or disassembly of the linear guide device. Are prevented from falling off the slider 15, two resin rolling element cages 22 (see FIG. 3) are provided.
The rolling elements 16 are formed in a spherical shape, and these rolling elements 16 are separated by a resin separator 23 (see FIG. 1) so as not to contact each other.

  The direction change path 18 of the end caps 13A and 13B communicates with the rolling element rolling path 17, so that the rolling element 16 that has rolled on the rolling element rolling path 17 changes direction, for example, on the direction changing path 18 of the end cap 13A. It is supposed to do. Further, the direction change paths 18 of the end caps 13A and 13B are also communicated with a rolling element return path 19 (see FIG. 1) formed in the slider body 12, and accordingly, the rolling elements that have rolled on the rolling element return path 19 The moving body 16 is changed in direction by a direction changing path 18 of the end cap 13B, for example.

The rolling element return path 19 is formed linearly in the slider body 12, and a resin sleeve 24 (see FIG. 1) is inserted into each rolling element return path 19.
The grease nipple mounting hole 20 is open to the back surface portion of the end caps 13A and 13B, and the back surface portion of each end cap 13A and 13B is from a grease nipple (not shown) screwed into the grease nipple mounting hole 20. A groove 25 (see FIG. 4) is provided for forming a flow path through which the lubricant flows between the slider body 12 and the end caps 13A and 13B.

  The rolling element holder 22 includes two plate portions 221 (see FIG. 5) disposed between the slider body 12 and the end caps 13A and 13B, and three plate portions 221 having both ends joined to these plate portions 221. It comprises a rolling element holding member 222, and two plate portion accommodating portions 26 (see FIG. 4) for accommodating the plate portion 221 of the rolling element retainer 22 are provided in the back surface of the end caps 13A and 13B. .

Each separator 23 is formed in a belt shape, and each separator 23 is provided with a plurality of holes 231 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) for accommodating the rolling elements 16 at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the separator 23. Yes.
The sleeve 24 is divided into a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and the plate portion 221 of the rolling element holder 22 is provided with two sleeve support holes 27 (see FIG. 6) for supporting the end portion of the sleeve 24. A lubricant supply groove 28 is provided for supplying a lubricant such as grease supplied to the groove portions 25 of the end caps 13A and 13B to the direction changing path 18 and the rolling element return path 19 and the like.

Further, the return guide 131 of the end caps 13A, 13B is fitted to the plate portion 221 of the rolling element holder 22 by fitting with arcuate protrusions 29 (see FIG. 4) provided on the back portions of the end caps 13A, 13B. Are provided with two arc-shaped notches 30 (see FIG. 6) for positioning the rolling element holder 22 at the end of the sleeve 24 inserted into the sleeve support hole 27 in the outer diameter direction of the sleeve support hole 27. A positioning portion 32 (see FIG. 6) is provided for forming a split portion 31 (see FIG. 2) which is expanded to the rolling element return path 19 and serves as a guide path for the separator 23.

Four positioning portions 32 for positioning the sleeve 24 are provided on the plate portion 221 of the rolling element holder 22, and the sleeve 24 has four engaging portions 33 (see FIG. 9) that engage with the positioning portion 32. Is provided over the entire length of the sleeve 24.
In the linear motion guide device 10 configured as described above, as described above, the resin sleeve 24 inserted into the rolling element return path 19 is divided into a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and the end portion of the sleeve 24 is supported. A sleeve support hole 27 is provided in the plate portion 221 of the rolling element retainer 22, and the end of the sleeve 24 inserted into the sleeve support hole 27 is expanded in the outer diameter direction of the sleeve support hole 27 to form the rolling element return path 19. By providing the positioning part 32 for forming the dividing part 31 in the plate part 221 of the rolling element holder 22, it is not necessary to form the guide path bottom part of the separator 23 on the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 24. Since the outer diameter of the sleeve 24 can be reduced by an amount corresponding to the thickness connecting the two, the rigidity of the slider body 12 can be increased.

Furthermore, in the linear motion guide device 10 according to the first embodiment, the engagement portion 33 is provided over the entire length of the sleeve 24, so that the sleeve 24 can be moved to the rolling element even after the rolling element holder 22 is mounted on the slider body 12. It can be inserted into the return path 19.
Further, in the linear motion guide device 10 according to the first embodiment, the arcuate notch portion that engages with the arcuate protrusion 29 provided on the back surface portion of the end caps 13A and 13B to position the rolling element cage 22. By providing 30 on the plate portion 221 of the rolling element holder 22, the rolling element holder 22 and the return guide 131 can be accurately positioned, and the operability and noise characteristics of the linear motion guide device 10 are further improved. be able to.

Further, since the sleeve 24 has at least one divided portion 31 in the longitudinal direction thereof, the outer diameter of the sleeve can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, the strength of the slider 15 can be improved and the size of the slider 15 can be reduced. . Further, since the sleeve 24 is locked so as to be spread over the inner surface of the rolling element return path 19 of the slider body 12 to prevent contact between the divided portions 31 of the sleeve, the sleeve 24 is sunk and the circulation path of the rolling element and the separator are separated. The arm 23 guide groove is closed, and the operability and noise characteristics are not deteriorated. Furthermore, since the outer diameter shape of the sleeve 24 positioned by the positioning portion 32 has a portion larger than the inner peripheral surface of the rolling element return path 19, the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 24 and the inner peripheral surface of the rolling element return path 19 are separated. It is possible to prevent the sleeve 24 from vibrating due to contact with the rolling element 16 and generating noise.

In the first embodiment described above, a part of the dividing surface of the sleeve 24 is cut out in an arc shape to form the engaging portion 33. However, as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. You may make it form the engaging part 33 by notching a part of outer peripheral surface to concave shape.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the sleeve 24 inserted into the rolling element return path 19 is divided into a semi-cylindrical shape along the rolling element return path 19, but as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, a configuration in which at least one divided portion 35 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve 24 may be used, and by using such a configuration, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

It is a top view of the linear motion guide apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is II-II sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. It is a rear view of the end cap shown in FIG. It is a side view of the rolling element holder | retainer shown in FIG. It is a front view of the rolling element holder | retainer shown in FIG. It is a top view of the belt-shaped separator shown in FIG. It is VIII-VIII sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the sleeve shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the sleeve in the linear motion guide apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the sleeve in the linear motion guide apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the sleeve in the conventional linear motion guide apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

11 Guide rail 12 Slider body 13A, 13B End cap 14R, 14S Rolling element rolling groove 15 Slider 16 Rolling element 17 Rolling element rolling path 18 Direction changing path 19 Rolling element return path 20 Grease nipple mounting hole 21 Side seal 22 Rolling element holding Device 221 Plate part 222 Rolling body holding member 23 Separator 24 Sleeve 25 Groove part 26 Plate part accommodating part 27 Sleeve support hole 28 Lubricant supply groove 29 Arc-shaped protrusion part 30 Arc-shaped notch part 31 Dividing part 32 Positioning part 33 Engaging part 35 Dividing part

Claims (5)

A guide rail, a slider main body having a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove formed on the guide rail, and formed between the rolling rail rolling grooves of the guide rail and the slider main body. Two end caps each having a rolling element rolling path and a direction changing path communicating with the rolling element return path formed in the slider body, and the relative linear motion of the slider composed of the slider body and the end cap. A rolling element rolling path, a plurality of rolling elements that roll on the rolling element return path and the direction changing path , a rolling element holder having a plate portion between the slider body and the end cap, and the rolling element In a linear motion guide device comprising a resin-made belt-like separator to be separated and a cylindrical resin sleeve inserted into the rolling element return path,
The sleeve is divided into two substantially semi-cylindrical shapes, a sleeve support hole for supporting the end of the sleeve is provided in the plate portion of the rolling element holder, and the end of the sleeve inserted into the sleeve support hole Is pushed out in the outer diameter direction of the sleeve support hole so as to prevent the divided portions from coming into contact with each other, and two positioning portions that form the guide path of the separator in the rolling element return path are provided on the rolling element. A linear motion guide device provided on a plate portion of a cage . The linear guide device according to claim 1, wherein an engagement portion that engages with the positioning portion is provided in the sleeve . 3. The linear motion guide device according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portion is formed by cutting out a part of the divided portion of the sleeve in an arc shape . The linear motion guide device according to claim 2 , wherein the engaging portion is formed by cutting out a part of the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve into a concave shape . The linear motion guide device according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the engaging portion is provided over the entire length of the sleeve.

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